Agroecologicalcharacteristics of corn races (Zea mays L.) from the different regions of the World. : I. The races native to Prti and Bolivia

Abstract

Ninety-seven Andean races of maize (Zea mays L.) native to Perti and Bolivia were grown in 1969 in the Experiment Farm of the University of Osaka PreLecture (34°35'N., 135°30'E.). The plants were exclusively delaying to mature in Osaka, especially in the races from 10wer latitudes and altitudes of the native countries. It was often difH:cult to do selfing in some races, especially frorn higher altitudes, because the silking delayed so long time that the ffowering of the tassel did not overlap with the former. Prolonged maturation had made the plants taller with greater number of nodes of the stalk. The longest leaf and the uppermost ear attached at quite high nodal positions, influenced by the altitude of the native cultivation site. Thus, the races were classifed into two grbups: (1) Races from lower altitudes (>1, 000m); The uppermost ear attached at an axil several leaves above the longest leaf. (2) Races from higher altitudes (>1, OOOm); The ear attached at the direct or near node of the longest leaf.